The World Rapid and Blitz 2025 returned to the Sports and Events Complex at Qatar University after nine years, drawing 247 top players in the open section and 142 in the women’s. With a €1,000,000 prize fund on the line, including €70,000 for the open rapid winner, GMs Magnus Carlsen, D Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, and Vladislav Artemiev share the lead at 4.5/5 points after five intense rounds.
World Rapid And Blitz 2025 Day 1
Magnus Carlsen, the world number one seeded first at 2824, lived up to his reputation with four straight wins before drawing Arjun. He crushed GM Lorenzo Lodici in a knight endgame, delivered the Game of the Day checkmate against GM David Paravyan in a wild Sicilian, and sealed victories with zugzwang and pawn sacrifices.
Gukesh D, the world champion seeded 16th at 2692, bounced back from an early draw to win four in a row, including a gritty rook endgame against GM Alan Pichot. Arjun, seeded ninth at 2714, matched that pace with flashy tactics like 30…Nf3! against GM Aram Hakobyan. Vachier-Lagrave impressed with 96% accuracy over GM Alexander Grischuk, while Artemiev ground out a tough bishop endgame win.
The chase pack on 4 points features surprises like IM Goutham Krishna H (2392), who upset GM Teimour Radjabov, and GM Sandipan Chanda, who beat GM Levon Aronian and R Praggnanandhaa. Other notables include GMs Anish Giri, Nihal Sarin, and Hans Niemann. Upsets stole the show, too. GM Jonas Buhl Bjerre trapped GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov with 11.Be6!! after 10…Qd7??.
In the women’s event in World Rapid and Blitz 2025, GM Zhu Jiner stands alone at 4/4, defeating GM Nana Dzagnidze and others while enjoying her post-graduation chess focus. Seven players trail at 3.5, including GMs Aleksandra Goryachkina, Harika Dronavalli, and Mariya Muzychuk. Indian GMs Koneru Humpy, Vaishali Rameshbabu (who stunned GM Tan Zhongyi), and Divya Deshmukh sit on 3. Reigning triple crown holder GM Ju Wenjun also has 3 points.
Read More
World Rapid and Blitz 2025 day two kicks off today, December 27, at 4:30 p.m. IST with rounds 6-9 in open and 5-8 in women’s. Leaders clash early: Vachier-Lagrave vs Carlsen on board one, Arjun vs Artemiev on two, and Gukesh vs Giri on three. Zhu faces Goryachkina. With 13 open rounds and 11 women’s ahead, anything can happen in this 15+10 format before blitz begins on December 29.
Gukesh called it a chance to experiment and enjoy, but his form says title contender. Carlsen eyes Volodar Murzin’s crown despite past FIDE tensions. Arjun’s precision keeps India buzzing. Hold tight, World Rapid And Blitz 2025 in Doha is set to deliver drama.
Also read: Magnus Carlsen Says Gukesh D Is “Still A Youngster…”
